Chapter 59 Reconciliation (2/2)

Kay looked at Sarah with her eyes wide in shock, ”Why didn't you tell me?!”

Sarah stared at her, her mouth agape, ”Kay. Really. Each time I tried, you'd just shut me out. The moment the name 'Kyle' came out of my lips, you just closed your ears. What could I do?”

Kay looked down in guilt. Sarah was right.

She had been so annoyed at Kyle that she didn't want to hear anything related to him in case she weakened her resolve. Little did she know how badly he had been affected. She knew he was upset, but not to this extent! She stood up worriedly and was just about to call out to him mentally when she heard quick footsteps approaching their table. She turned, to see Kyle running like a speeding bullet and crashed into her.

Well, I say crashed but in actual fact, it was Kyle rushing up to her and hugging her tightly. One minute, she had just turned and saw him and the next, her face was smashed into his chest and was being held tight. She could hear the rapid beating of his heart, the tightness of his hug and utter regret filled her heart. She brought her arms up and hugged him tightly back, too.

They stood there, not moving and tuned out everything else.

All Kyle felt right now was complete peace, as he held Kay tightly and breathed in her scent. He had been so frantic and full of worry, yet he didn't push. He almost caved in as well as to the Operation Honey Trap, but he managed to hold it in. If he gave in now, when he felt so strongly about it, what about next time? What if something happened if he went against his gut feeling?

But it had been torture. Absolute torture. It was bad enough when he had been disciplining his kids but he had the 'I am your mother' card. This time, he didn't have anything to rely on other than his strong feelings of protectiveness over Kay. Wasn't it enough? Couldn't she understand? Why was she being so difficult? Should he give in? These were just some of the thoughts that went through his mind for the entire week. It drove him crazy.

He knew people were worried, more so Xing Han, but he just couldn't snap out of it. He had no appetite, he was worried, he was upset. Eating was just chewing and swallowing, and he took enough not to starve. Sometimes Xing Han would push some food onto his lips and he would open his mouth mechanically and take a bite. Thinking about it, he was lucky to have had Xing Han on his case the entire time.

Finally, after perhaps 5 minutes of them just hugging, Kay pushed him away. At least, tried to. Kyle was still holding on to her tightly, his cheek on her head. She leaned her had back, forcing him to put up his own head and look at her. She brought up a hand to his cheek and said, ”You're so much thinner now.”

Kyle shrugged.

Putting her hands on his chest, she chided him, ”Come on, eat.”

Kyle felt a hand on his shoulder and turning, saw that it was Ali. Although Ali didn't stay in the dorms, for the past few days, he had come to school earlier just to accompany Kyle at the cafeteria. Sam was already at the table as well, munching on a sandwich.

”Come on, Kyle. Just take what you can. Take the sweet things first, and let your stomach settle a bit before taking the rest. Slowly eat. Your stomach has been empty for so long, it's not good to shock it,” Ali advised. As he fasts for a whole day during the Ramadhan month, he is well versed in knowing how to tackle eating after fasting.

Kay nodded and Kyle finally let Kay go.

[I'm sorry, brother]

Kyle didn't answer but simply smiled sweetly at her as he sat down and started chewing the food slowly. He started with the french toast, dripped with honey, and found that it was edible. He followed Ali's advice and ate slowly. Occasionally, he would feed Kay as well and she would smile at him as he did so.

Kay watched him eat, and felt relieved. She was sorry for what he had gone through, but she was not sorry for Operation Kay. That was that, this was this. She vowed not to use the silent treatment again and to be more mindful of Kyle. He may be an adult but this truly showed that he was much more vulnerable than he let on.

She felt she had failed as a sister.

Meanwhile, unknown to both of them, there were being watched by a pair of eyes that were being filled with envy.